BlogEngage Invite only now!  Many of you know I am a huge supporter of Blog Engage.  If you haven’t joined Blog Engage by now a few things have changed.  No longer can you just join BlogEngage.  In order to become a member now  with this site you will need an invite.  The good news is existing members can provide you with an invite.  If you are interested in becoming a member of the best network and communities of bloggers please comment below and I can review your blog and sent you and invite.

Announcement from Brian Owner of BlogEngage

Blog Engage Closes Registrations and goes invitation only!

How to Invite Others

*** 1st you must be an existing member if you are then you have a simple 3 step process to follow details below.  The process is really simple nice work Brian.

Step 1 Log in to BlogEngage

Step 2 Click Invite Friends (Screen Shot Below)

Step 3 Add your e-mail and the person or persons you want to enter.

Is this a good move?

I would love to here you comments on this.  I personally think it is.  BlogEngage has grown tremendously in the last year.  Going invite only can is a technique that Google has used when it first launched G-Mail, Google Wave, Google Voice.   It worked for them it can create a buzz and demand for your product or service.  I been a member since July and I can tell you that I have made so many connections here.  I have found and connected with a lot of quality bloggers and made a bunch of blogger friends.

Blog Maintenance

An often overlooked Blog maintenance or IT task that is often not addressed it backing up your website.  This is a simple task for any wordpress admin.  In less then 10 minutes you can set this up and start backing up wordpress automatically.

How to WordPress Backup

Step 1 Go to Install Plugins

Step 2 Search for backup

Step 3 You should see WP-DB-Backup # 1 return right now

Step 4 Click Install

Step 5 Activate

Once Activated you can configure in under Tools – Backup

Then just check the any extra tables and input e-mail address and how often you want it to backup.

You can also run a adhoc backups.  I would strongly suggest to backup before any major theme changes or upgrades.  I can’t tell you how many times backups have saved my ass in IT.  Backs are a must do activity.

Verify!!

Once do you will see regular e-mails that give you comfort that your backups are running.

Sample e-mails below all is well!

Do you have your backups configured?

If not you should really read this post and then go and download and configure this plug-in.  In less then 15 minutes you can be all set.  15 minutes of time to save you from losing months or years of work.

Here’s a link to the Plug-in website I thank Austin Matzko of ilfilosofo.com for making this great free plugin.  I hope this post isn’t too short but I wanted to K.I.S.S. so people would find it more useful.  If you like this please comment and tweet.  Remember I am running a comment contest this month and the month is almost over.

Looks verse Content

If you are attempting to create a successful blog for personal or business reasons, you should know that looks do count. Many bloggers make the mistake of thinking that looks are not as important as content, since readers are essentially reading your blog for the words, not the way it looks. This is true to some degree. The fact is however that people will not take your words seriously if your blog looks less than attractive. To have a successful blog you have to have it all. You must have interesting content as well as a great look. If you want to update the look of your blog, consider these areas of importance.

Easy To Scan

The way your blog reads on a page is an extremely important part of your blog’s look. You should always remember to keep your blog posts short and to the point. If you are treating your blog as a personal diary, your posts may be a little longer than normal. But, if you are trying to get more traffic to your blog, then you really want to focus the attention with short posts that offer the main point easily. Most blog readers will only scan your posts, not read them word for word. So keep this in mind when you are writing. The shorter the post, the more likely they are to read the entire thing. If your blog is easy to scan because the posts are short and the breaks are clear, you will have a great looking blog.

Professional Edge

When designing or redesigning your blog, try to make it as professional looking as possible. Even if the blog is not for a business, the more professional it looks, the more seriously people will take it. Today we have so many options for themes both free and premium.  Elegant theme is a great option if your not really sure what you want the look for your blog to be.  You get access to over 50 professional SEO WordPress Themes for 20 dollars.   No matter what you have to do, just keep a level of professionalism in your mind throughout the designing process.

Friendly Colors

Most people don’t think twice about what colors they choose for their blog. The facts are that some colors come across better on the web than others. Blue and black are easy to see, so they are always great choices to use. Sea-green, beige, or purple are also great soothing colors to use for a blog. You should stay away from using colors like pink, yellow, or any neon varieties. They are extremely hard on the eyes when reading them online and can deter people from reading your blog. Keep these color tips in mind when you design your blog to get the best results available.

Appropriate Graphics

It has been noted that the use of pictures on your blog is a great way to boost traffic. Blogs that offer pictures that correlate with their content are fantastic. Readers love to connect with the content further through pictures. With most blogging software offering ways to easily add pictures, it should not be a problem for most publishers to add them right into the blog. If you do have trouble, consider checking the “help” area in your blogging software for more information. The information there should provide you with step by step instructions to help you get on your way.

Successful Layout

Most people who design blogs and websites will tell you that the layout does matter as well. The way a blog looks to the reader in important in terms of layout. The layout should be clear and defined. If the reader is confused by the layout, they will likely not stick around to explore. They will most likely go right on to the next blog available. If you are letting a professional design your blog, you will likely not need to worry much about the layout. However, if you are doing it yourself, take a look at other successful sites to get ideas about what works and what doesn’t. Look at your site like a reader would to get the best advice you can. Lastly, simply test different layouts on your friends and family to see which ones they find the most suitable for your blog.

In honor of Extreme John and just to show why he is one of the best CEO Bloggers on the net check out the post below.  John is know for his Sunday Smash Up’s so here is my take at it.  My Smash up will never compare but not bad for my 1st take a this. 

Earlier in the week I told you a little bit about just how great I thought this guy was and a couple days later a few comments here and now a link back from the best list I have seen on the internet in some time.  Do yourself a favor and check this out.

25 Best Blogging and Social Media Tips of the Week

Also if you didn’t know it this blog is DO FOLLOW now.  I switched back in December it and didn’t really ever announce,

Once again I thank Extreme John for the Free DO FOLLOW graphics.  Need a set for your blog?

Go here!

Free Do Follow Graphics

Not quite sure what do follow will do for you blog once again I am going to point to Extreme John here he is part of the reason along with many others that that are do follow blogs.  Here is a article by John that will help you under stand this whole Do Follow thing for those that don’t quite get it.

Do Follow vs. No Do Follow

I am going to be putting together my list of Do Follow Blogs for a post this week if you want to be on it please be sure to comment below.

That reminds me my comment contest this month is not going very week but I still have hope.  Check out the details here.  You just need to be the top commenter or enter at least 5 comments this month to have a chance to win. 

Right now the standings are pretty Sad

Bjorn| iCantInternet (5)

Extreme John (3)

Karl Foxley (2)

***Anyone could be in 1st place in less then 10 minutes. 

My bet will be on John or James winning this thing or maybe Brian or Karl I could get interesting as John just posted a couple links to my blog so I should see a nice jump in traffic. Let’s see who takes the most action and wins.

Other Blogging News

Free David Risley Webcast

Monday 8:00PM EST will sell out!

Webinar Information on DavidRisley.com

 Also Check out the these Freebie’s tied to his Launch

New Blog I discovered this week

http://www.theinfopreneur.net/ – Look out for this guy super motivated Family man James Richmond from the UK. James is my kind of guy.  Watch and study him he is like a machine posting twice a day if not more.  50-60 comments per post extreme focus.  lots of great quality content everywhere guest posting like crazy.  Alex Rank under 85k in less then 3 months.  It’s not everyday you find a blog that instantly are attached to.  More to come about this guy. 

You know I have a goal do something very similar this year I will be reading how he did it. Might see if I can increase post count next month need to set a good goal this month was 20 post which is a stretch for me.  Seems to be he pretty much just writes, promotes, writes promotes, writes, promotes.  Kind a makes sense when you think about it.  Going above and the normal is his method.  10 post per week vs. 3-5 that a lot of work but it is working.  No one ever said blogging was easy.

I know I see Extreme John Posting above the curve.  Interesting this might be a great idea.  Looks like next month focus will be writing.  I did get a new netbook so I think I am up for it.  Modeling habits of those that are doing what you want is good advice.

Word Challenge

Brian from Blog Engage and I need your help.  Check this out.

For those that don’t know what this is every week on Blog Engage we have a Word voted on by our members then we all blog about it and comment in the post.  At the end of the week we wrap it all up with links back the all the posts.

Fun Contest lots of great people commenting and tweeting, relationship builder you should get involved Brian and I are very active with this along with others.  Here are some of the entries from last week about Favorite Blogs

Ms. Ileane’s (Guest Post on Blazing Minds) – WordPress Plugin Video Tutorial
SEO MKT – Favorite Blogs of 2010
The Money Cult – Best Blogging Sites
I Can’t Internet – My Favorite blogs

Thanks Everyone I hope you have a great blogging week!

If  you don’t know this about me David Risley was the 1st Pro Blogger that I started reading regularly.  David has one of if not the best blogging site going right now.  I have always been impressed with David’s content and blogging style. David always over delivers and is still very active with his blogging and his community.

David is about to launch his Blog Master Club again and now your chance to checkout all the free stuff that David gives away to help draw people in to his launch for the Blog Master Club.

Two things you must check out.

Six Figure Blogger BluePrint

This is a 47-page document where David explains what goes into making a six-figure income as a blogger. In it, he discusses things like:

- The 3 vital questions to help you pick a profitable market for your blog
- The exact layout of your six figure, traffic sucking empire.
- The exact reasons why most bloggers fail to make money (and how you can avoid it).

And this report is not fluff. This thing is STUFFED with advice. It truly is a Blueprint.

The ‘Wealth Gap’ Video

David is a pro-blogger who has been making a six-figure income at it since 2004. He knows his stuff, and he doesn’t beat around the bush as to how to do it.

In this video, he talks about things like…

- Why do SOME people make good money while many others don’t?
- Do marketers make more money because they are scammers?
- How can you turn your blog into a funnel which generates an income?
- What is the blunt, honest truth about the business of blogging? (or any business for that matter)

I think you’ll like it.

No opt-in is required to view the video.

Every year at the beginning of the year here and see a lot of people talking about goals.  My advice to you is talk is cheap.  Setting your goal or goals is the easy part making it happen it a different story.  One thing to keep in mind if you want to accomplish goals this year is to set smart goals.

Set smart goals and realistic goals

You need to take a look at where your at and where you want to get to.  You then need to figure out the steps or time effort and money to get you their.  Anything is possible with the right amount of time effort and money but most of us don’t have unlimited resources.

Why it is good to push yourself don’t see a goal to do a million dollar launch this year if you know have the resources or skills to make that happen.  Better yet if you have never even done a launch don’t think your 1st one will be a million dollar one.  A better goal would be to just launch your first product.  I have a goal to launch my 1st product this quarter and really the goal is to just launch it.  If I make money great but so much goes in to launching a product if you do it right I just want to get the experience of launching my own product for the 1st time.

Once you decide on you goal or goals you need to figure out all the steps and people you need to help you accomplish your goals.  One good ideal it to come up with a goal statement make it public.  Those that talk about their goals have greater success.  You might even find that others will come and help you especially in the blogging world.  People tend to like to help others (another goal of mine).  You also need to make sure that your goals are measurable goals their really isn’t any point in setting a goal if you can measure it.

Do I need to have formal goals?

NO, don’t waste time just open notepad or a take a piece of paper out.  Just be sure to write down your goals and keep them some where where you will look at them regularly.  You can even write a blog post about them or keep a page for them and then cross them off.  Then every week or month look at them and figure out what your doing to work toward them.  Maybe you will focus on one of them each month.  It all depends on how lofty they are.

My Goals

I pretty much look at my goals every month.  This year I have a couple of themes.  Run my blog like a business and be more consistent.  This is a snip from part of my business plan that I will share still in draft but this is what I am looking at so far for 2010.  I can drill down in to each of these and maybe I will in another post but here you go.

My Goals for 2010

- Be more consistent

- 20 blog post per month for 1st 2 months of the year (challenge)

- Run Contests and Enter other Contest
Monthly Comment Contest – THE MONEY CULT

- Guest Post

- Reduce Alex Rank to 100k by year end

- Exercise 15 minutes a day period!

- Create 3 products or services

xx –tee-shirt

xx –Membership site

xx – Workshops

xx – Small Business Website Setup and SEO consultation

- Build 5 Kick Ass Websites for others

- Learn to make graphics

- Give out more link luv

-Affiliate marketing Plan for each month

-Update side bars every month

Some of you know I been running the Blog Engage Weekly word challenge(Goal start guest post on a regular basis).  I decided to give some double link luv this week.  Another goal of my give out more link luv.

You still have today or early tomorrow to reply to the weekly word challenge with your Blogging Goal post to get credit on the Friday Wrap up.

Some other great articles about Blogging Goals

from the Blog Engage weekly word challenge.

SEOMKT Setting realistic blogging goals for 2010.

FMSSEO Achieving your blogging goals for 2010.

The Star Celeb My Blogging Goals for 2010

Win-With-1 Blogging Goals 2010 and Beyond

Ms. Ileane’s Blog Blogging Goals Helping New Bloggers In

Tycoon Blogger Blog Goal Setting

LetUpdate Blog in New Year 2010

I just wanted to let everyone know that I finally wrote my 1st guest post.  I am pretty pumped.  I actually am going to be posting regular on the Community Blog Engage Blog. I worked it out with Brian to do the weekly word challenge posts which I like to do anyway.

I am pumped for a couple reasons.

1. I had a goal to do a guest post for some time. (Done)
2. I worked it out with Brian so this is now a habit
3. High traffic blog with links back to my blog
4. This is a fun contest which gives me a good topic to write about every week

I you haven’t entered this contest you should give it a try.   All you have to do is take the word of the week and write a blog post about it, comment the contest post and submit to blog engage.

They at the weekend you will get a mention in the next post.  If anyone has any question let me know.  Also guest posting on Blog Engage was a breaze I am finally glad I got my 1st guest post done look forward to doing more.

Part of my inspiration came from some recent guest post on David Risley Blog.  Have you heard of this site Daily Shot of Coffee?  Well Mike Crimmins is the owner/blogger here and a guest post by him inspired me to take action and finally do one,  thank you Mike.

Any one else out their do any guest posting?  Want to share the results it had on the traffic on your blog?